Method for molecular genealogical research

Abstract

A genealogical research and record keeping system and method for identifying commonalities in haplotypes and other genetic characteristics of two or more individual members of a biological sample. Chromosomal fragments identical by descent identify family ties between siblings, parents and children and ancestors and progeny across many generations. It is particularly useful in corroborating and improving the accuracy of genealogical data, and identifying previously unknown genetic relationships.

1. A method of identifying and reconstructing the genotype of a common ancestor among humans, said method comprising:
 obtaining genetic samples from a plurality of humans; 
 analyzing the genetic samples using the polymerase chain reaction to determine a first data set comprising genetic information characterizing short tandem repeats in linkage disequilibrium for each member of the plurality of humans, wherein the genetic information includes autosomal genetic information, wherein the genetic information comprises a unique genetic identifier for each member of the plurality of humans, and wherein the genetic information comprises at least one genetic marker that is identical by descent among humans within three to ten successive lineal ancestral familial generations of each other; 
 providing a computer readable storage medium comprising a database and analytical programming for cross-referencing and comparing genetic information and genealogical information; 
 inputting the first data set into the database; 
 inputting a second data set into the database, the second data set comprising genealogical information from said plurality of members; 
 evaluating the genetic information for homology among the short tandem repeats; and 
 associating the genetic information of the first data set with the genealogical information of the second data set; 
 identifying and displaying a common ancestor between at least two members of the plurality of humans using the analytical programming to cross-reference and compare the associated genetic information of the first data set and the genealogical information of the second data set; and 
 reconstructing a genotype of the common ancestor using at least the genetic information of the at least two members of the plurality of humans, in the absence of a genetic sample from the common ancestor, the common ancestor being previously unidentified within the genealogical information of at least one member of the at least two members of the plurality of members at the time the method is performed, the common ancestor being within three to ten successive lineal ancestral familial generations of each of said at least two members, each generation being defined by a meiotic event; 
 wherein the level of biological relatedness of the at least two members of the plurality of members is undetermined at the time the method is performed. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein evaluating the genetic information for homology comprises identifying a plurality of chromosomal fragments in said first data set that are substantially identical by descent, and associating and displaying the genetic information of the first data set with the genealogical information of the second data set comprises correlating the substantially identical chromosomal fragments with said genealogical information in said second data set. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said first data set is in genetic haplotype form. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein associating the genetic information of the first data set with the genealogical information of the second data set comprises representing the degree of correlation between said first and second data sets statistically. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the short tandem repeats in linkage disequilibrium comprise 3 to 5 sets of genetic markers. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identity of the common ancestor is previously unknown to at least two members of the at least two members of the plurality of humans. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two members of the plurality of humans have at least two separate lines of descent from the common ancestor. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the each of the short tandem repeats in linkage disequilibrium is represented at a specific location on a chromosome. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 producing a physical genealogical record display comprising either the genotype of the common ancestor, or the at least two members of the plurality of humans positioned in a family tree or pedigree chart. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the physical genealogical record display further comprises information about the physical characteristics or personal accomplishments of the identified and displayed common ancestor. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the primers used in the polymerase chain reaction comprise at least one primer selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-18. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first data set comprises genetic information characterizing at least 250 short tandem repeats in linkage disequilibrium for each member of the plurality of humans.